Thanks to everyone who has volunteered

THIS Volunteers’ Week, Royal Voluntary Service would like to say a huge thank you to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who have stepped forward to help their communities and to support the NHS during the challenges faced as a result of the pandemic.

We are incredibly grateful and proud of our army of volunteers for readily adapting services to ensure those who need our support, have it – isolation shouldn’t mean coping alone.

Many volunteers who gave their time in hospitals or ran lunch and social clubs now take meals or groceries to the doorsteps of our participants, and we’ve donated our stock from our shops and cafés to NHS staff working on the frontline.

Volunteers who supported clients on a one-to-one basis now call them each week for a chat and to make sure they’re safe and well, and patient transport services have continued, ensuring patients can safely attend medical appointments.

Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we have opened the ‘Virtual Village Hall’ on Facebook, where those experiencing isolation and disruption can find community and fun activities to try, all from the comfort and safety of home.

The coronavirus pandemic has challenged us all, but there have been rays of light shining through as a result; 600,000 people are now NHS Volunteer Responders, providing much needed support to people isolating from coronavirus, and we hope that moving forward, more people will be inspired to volunteer in their communities.

Many of our volunteers have themselves had to isolate, and we look forward to being able to meet them again.

To all of our volunteers, who give their time so generously and selflessly to help others, we thank you.

SAM WARD, Deputy CEO and Director of Services, Royal Voluntary Service